By Steve Holland | WASHINGTON
The United States is close to completing a series of arms deals for Saudi Arabia totaling more than $100 billion, a senior White House official said on Friday, a week ahead of President Donald Trump's planned visit to Riyadh.
The official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the arms package could end up surpassing more than $300 billion over a decade to help Saudi Arabia boost its defensive capabilities while still maintaining U.S. ally Israel's qualitative military edge over its neighbors.
"We are in the final stages of a series of deals," the official said. The package is being developed to coincide with Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia. Trump leaves for the kingdom on May 19, the first stop on his maiden international trip.
Reuters reported last week that Washington was pushing through contracts for tens of billions of dollars in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, some new, others already in the pipeline, ahead of Trump's visit.
The United States has been the main supplier for most Saudi military needs, from F-15 fighter jets to command and control systems worth tens of billions of dollars in recent years. Trump has vowed to stimulate the U.S. economy by boosting manufacturing jobs.
The package includes American arms and maintenance, ships, air missile defense and maritime security, the official said. "We'll see a very substantial commitment ... In many ways it is intended to build capabilities for the threats they face."
The official added: "It's good for the American economy but it will also be good in terms of building a capability that is appropriate for the challenges of the region. Israel would still maintain an edge."
While in Riyadh, the official said Trump would attend three major events: A series of meeting with Saudi officials, a separate session with leaders of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council and a lunch with Arab and Muslim leaders, 56 of whom have been invited, to discuss combating extremism and cracking down on illicit financing.
Trump will discuss how to counter the threat from Islamic State militants, the war in Yemen and threats of ballistic missiles and maritime shipping in the Red Sea, the official said.


http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN18832N?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=59167ee704d30127af6d40de&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

OK

Fight Saudi and see the wrath of America

Thought they don't like Muslims.

GavelSlam:
Thought they don't like Muslims.

American is interested in free flow of oil

Nothing like religious affiliation

It's only black man with their hopeless mentality

I heard a god of men walked on the water and got devour by hungry crocodiles in Zimbabwe

You can't try God

He walk in mysterious ways

Trump is also going to KSA to take a bow.

GavelSlam:
Thought they don't like Muslims.

ermm, they actually don't. Atleast the vast majority of americans don't have any good thing to say about saudi-arabia and for good reason.
The american government though is another kettle of fish. $100 billion is a huge amount of money.
They would hold their nose away from the saudi-muslim stench and sell them those machineries and pocket their 100mill. That is the value of saudi-arabia- a market for US weapons and steady supply of cheap oil.
And besides, the article states that america will still maintain Israel's military edge over every country in that region including saudi-arabia. Isreal is getting some new-age machines like the F-35s that the saudis will never be able to get in a million years.
So the long term geo-political arithmetic in that region is still intact.

sarrki:


American is interested in free flow of oil

Nothing like religious affiliation

It's only black man with their hopeless mentality

I heard a god of men walked on the water and got devour by hungry crocodiles in Zimbabwe

You can't try God

He walk in mysterious ways

There is no free flow of oil anywhere in the world, they pay for all crude oil they receive from all their crude oil suppliers.

Hate him or like Trump is a smart man

100 billion gini

Is KSA at WAR? _{(probably with the Houthis)}

Nobody is accusing America now of destabilizing the Middle East but if the Russians package an S-400 system with some sukhois for IRAN, all hell will let loose.

...........and somebody tell me that WW3 is not near.

blood of zohorariel

No wonder America over-hype and deploy their military gadgets worldwide - sublime marketing

something is telling me Saudi is spending 100billion dollars because of what Iranian military spokesman said

Abeycity97:
something is telling me Saudi is spending 100billion dollars because of what Iranian military spokesman said

Then I guess someone knows his enemy ain't bluffing.. which, I think ignites the need for more weapons...